'I would encourage everyone to do it': Portsmouth mum gives her tips for budgeting during the summer holidays

A mum-of-two has revealed how she survives the school holidays on just £50 a week for activities for her kids.

Kelly Miles, 33, wanted her kids – aged 12 and 10 - to have "lovely memories" without breaking the bank and falling into debt, and for the last two years has stuck to a strict budget of £200.

Focusing instead on free local options like free swimming sessions for under 12s, libraries and heading to the beach for the day, Kelly uses Monzo pots to set aside money for more expensive days out.

Due to rising prices she has upped her budget to £300 this year, but this still only works out at £50 per week.

She says the one thing "overlooked" the most is the hidden cost of food – and she always makes sure she comes prepared, using an insulated backpack to bring meals and snacks for her little ones.

Kelly, a manager from Portsmouth says: "I was a single mum on benefits trying to make things stretch and at that point it was very difficult and I was almost determined not to fall into debt. That's where I picked up on all the things I do now.

"I look at what I have around locally and what is free locally. And then the wider area like beaches, country parks, something where you would spend the whole day there and just pay for a bit of parking – but that's if you're taking food.

"Normally my budget is £200 but this is the first year it's £300. Obviously everything is more expensive.

"It's hard to put a figure on it but ballpark I save between £400 and £500 doing what I do".

Kelly sets aside funds for the more expensive days out in a Monzo pot – and this year has planned around trips including to a local mud trail, aquapark, Legoland and theme parks using Merlin annual passes.

She chips away at the pot throughout the year, adding some cash after paying all essential bills and savings.

"I really would encourage everyone to do it," she said. “When it’s near to Christmas I might add £10 or even nothing but the closer to summer it gets I’ll put £50 in there to get it where it needs to be.

"People do it for Christmas but I would recommend it for the summer holidays. The kids are getting older and it's harder for older children. The young ones are happy going to local libraries and painting stones and pebbles at the beach.

"I'm at the pre-teen stage where they want to go out with their mates and it's 'give me a tenner' so I set more aside."

With much of her success at saving down to "pre-planning", Kelly says it can take the "spontaneity" out of days out, but saves her hundreds.

"Food is the biggest cost on days out and days in," she said. "What I mean by that is when kids go to school with a packed lunch or free school meals it tides them over.

"Days out in country parks and places like Thorpe Park if you don't bring a packed lunch it can cost so much and not even for decent food.

"Even then, people take their kids swimming not bringing a snack and what do the kids want to do as soon as they come out? Attack the vending machine.

"In the house they eat you out of house and home. I buy things to spread further like flour, eggs, and packets of biscuits rather than snack packs.

"We make pizza rolls, pancakes and all different bits like that so it's really more exciting. Drinks as well, I went to Thorpe Park and a bottle of Coke was £3.50 so bring water bottles with you.”

Kelly has also invested in a few items that have seen her through multiple summers that she says are "worth it".

She said: "The number one by far is my insulated backpack. I showed a video on socials of one I've had for 10 years – I don't even remember where I bought it and we use it in winter too. It keeps drinks and food cool. Again I said there about water bottles, good water bottles are essential.

"Buckets and spades and stuff I've been caught out there with shops at the beach charging double the price.

"Go to pound shops and B&M before and save money. It's about the mindset before."

Kelly's top tips

• Look for free activities and events locally
• Set aside a pot of money in advance for the summer holidays
• Set a budget
• Bulk buy ingredients and snacks like big packs of biscuits and flour/eggs to make your own pizzas
• Be prepared ahead of days out and bring along lunch, snacks and drinks to cut costs
• Invest in good quality items like an insulated backpack and sturdy water bottles
• Buy items that might be inflated in price beforehand e.g. bucket and spade from a supermarket